Rs.25 lakh compensation sought from Chevrolet dealer and manufacturer

CONSUMER'S DISPUTE REDRESSAL COMMISSION TAKE UP COMPLAINT 
VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 22 June: A resident of Mangan has filed a complaint with the Sikkim State Consumer Dispute’s Redressal Commission against the Chevrolet car dealer at Gangtok, 5th Mile Tadong as well as the car manufacturers, General Motors.  The complaint alleges that had been misled by the assurances on the high quality of safety measures of their product; the complaint was filed with the Consumer Forum after his Chevrolet Aveo met with an accident during which the air bag, which was supposed to burst open, failed. The compensation sought includes around Rs.1.65 lakh for medical treatment undergone and another Rs.25 lakh for lifelong treatment that he would have to undergo.
After hearing the complaint the Commission and president of the Commission, Justice S P Wangdi last week issued a notice to the respondents to respond within four weeks.
The complainant Rinchen Dorji Riponpa from North Sikkim had bought a Chevrolet Aveo U-VA LT 1.2 from the General Motors car dealer at 5th Mile Tadong in 2010. The accident occurred in the year 2011 at 32 Mile while he was on his way to Gangtok driving from Soreong, West Sikkim wherein he sustained severe injuries to his head and chest.
As per the safety measures supposedly inherent in the vehicle, the airbags on the driver’s side are to automatically open upon impact in order to save the driver from any serious injury.  However, as per the complainant’s allegation, the said vehicle Chevrolet Aveo U-VA LT 1.2 had no such facilities resulting in the complainant suffering grievous injuries. On the other hand the safety handbook provided by the company mentions that the vehicle is installed with this particular facility for safety.
Following the accident the complainant had approached the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA LT 1.2 car dealer at Tadong and sought clarification on why he was misled and cheated by the company but, as per the allegations, there was no response from the dealer or the company. The complainant has undergone medical treatment under a neurologist in Siliguri.
After recovering from his injuries Mr Riponpa then filed a complaint with the Sikkim State Consumer Disputes’ Redressal Commission alleging that the company and car dealer had cheated him by selling him a car which did not have the promised safety measure.
The complainant has sought compensation of more than of Rs.1.65 lakh spent in medical treatment and additional Rs 25 lakh for the lifelong treatment he will have to undertake along with the lawyer’s fee of Rs 50,000.
This is the first such case in the Sikkim State Consumer Disputes’ Redressal Commission against the car company.